Means for controlling the flow of gas.



'No. 892,996. PATENTED JULY 14, 1908.

G. G. KOTHB.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING 'THE FLOW OF GAS APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 992,996. 9 PATENTBD JULY'14, 190's. G. 9; KOTHE.

MEANS PORUONTROLLING THE FLOW 0P GAS.

APPLI OATIONPIL'EZD JAN. 15, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

GEORGE e. KOTHE, or Lo AIN, OHIO.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF GAS.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented July 14, 1908.

Application filed January 15, 1908. Serial No. 410,932.

have contemplated applying that principleso as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to means forcontrolling the flow of gas and particularly to means for shutting off a gas su ply after the pressure of such gas falls be ow a certain amount.

The invention is particularly ap licable where gas is used as a fuel or for lighting pur oses and where the pressure of such gas vanes considerably, as for instance, in the case of the use of natural gas. Where such natural gas is used, it is found that the pressure some times falls so low that the flame at the burner of-a stove or furnace will become extinguished and a subsequent increase in pressure therefore entails a loss of unconsumed gas and forms a source of great danger, as will be readily understood.

The object of said invention is to completely cut off the gas supply from all open urners when the pressure falls beneath a certain point.

The said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail, certain mechanism embodying the invention, the disclosed means constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawings :Figure 1 represents an elevation of a'device of the above mentioned character embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 represents a section of such device taken upon the plane indicated by line II-II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a partial section taken through a plane passing through the axis of the gas-duct and side elevation showing the parts in the position in which the gas supply is shut off. Fig. 4 represents a View similar to that of Fig. 3

in which the parts are shown in the position in which the gas is permitted to flow through said duct. upon the plane indicated by line V V, Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, A is a pipe section casting forming the main body of the above mentioned device and is provided with threads a by means of which it may be attached to a gas pipe to form part of an ordinary gas duct for sup lying gas to afurnace, stove or the usual il uminating burners. The one end of said body A is provided with an internally threaded bore a in which is screwed an auxiliarymember A provided with external threads a at its outer extremity by means of which latter it may be similarly attached to a gas pi e and also form part of the main duct as w1l be readily understood. The inner end of the member A is provided with a valve opening a and seat a, as shown in Fig. 4. A valve A is adapted to close said opening and is provided with a stem a projecting centra ly therefrom and from both sides thereof, as shown. Spiders a and a are provided for guiding said stem. The lower end of the latter is equipped with a carbon point a which, when the valve is in its closed position is adapted to project into a quantity of meroury B contained in a cup B provided with a lining l) of suitable insulation. The said cup is suitably supported by means of the spider (1, as shown. This spider is so located that when the valve is in its open position as shown in Fig. 4, the carbon point is withdrawn from the mercury. The said valve A together with its stem is made of a weight such that the normal pressure of gas will maintain it in its opening position and further such that when the gas pressure falls to a oint such that there is danger of any of the ames becoming extinguished, it will fall and assume its closing position, as shown in Fig. 3. I have found that this minimum pressure is about five-eighths of a pound per square inch and that aluminum may be advantageously used for the construction of this valve. I therefore make the area of my valve such that a pressure of five-eighths of a ound or less per square inch will permit it to all and close the opening a An electrical contact 0, Fig. 5, projects into the mercury in the cup B and is electrically connected with a plug a passing through the shell of member Fig. 5 represents a section taken- A and insulated therefrom, as shown. This plug is provided with a binding-screw c to which one end of a wire d, Fig. 1, of an electrical circuit including a battery D, is attached.

Two laterally projecting stems A A are secured to or formed integrally with the main or body portion A of the device, and upon the outer ends of these stems is secured a plate A. This plate forms an outer bearing for a rod or stem E whose inner end is supported by a bushin a secured in an opening a. piercing the shefi of member A as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This bushing is provided with a paeking nut a by means of which the rod may be suitably packed and leakage of gas around same thereby prevented. Intermediately of the ends of such rod is secured a collar 6 and located between this collar and the plate A is a coiled spring E which tends to actuate the rod to move into the bore of the duct. The length of the stem a of the valve A is made such that when the latter is in its closed position, the inner end of rod E is permitted to project into member A transversely and pass over the upper end of the stem and in close proximity thereto, so that no upward movement of such valve is permitted when the rod is in this position.

The outer end of the rod E is provided with a spring contact 6 insulated from the rod and provided with a binding-screw c to which One end of the circuit wire d is attached, the other end of which is connected with one pole of the battery D, the other pole of the latter being connected with the end of wire (1, as shown in Fig. 1. Plate A is provided with a flange a to which is attached a terminal a insulated from such plate and provided with a binding-screw (L15. One end of a circuit wire (1 is secured to this binding-post and the other end to a binding-post f forming one terminal of an electro-magnet F. This magnet is mounted upon a plate A which is secured directly to or'forms part of the member A, and is provided with a vibratory armature f, the construction of this part of the apparatus being old and well-known and needing no further description other than to state that the other terminal of the coil is connected directly with the body A through the medium of a supporting spring f 2 to which the armature f is attached, and a lug a) forming an integral part of the plate A The armature is further provided with a hammer F.

Pivotally mounted upon the lower stem A is a lever G whose upper end is adapted to engage the shoulder e of rod E and press the latter so as to remove the inner end thereof from above the valve stem a as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. This lever is held in this position by means of a member H pivotally mounted in lugs e a forming a part of mem her A. This member H is provided with two arms h and h, arm It being provided with a lip h which engages the lower end of the lever G and holds it in the position shown in said Fig. 1. Arm h is so disposed as to lie in the immediate vicinity of a headf" ol the hammer F, as shown in Fig. 2, when the arm h is in engagement with the lever G. It will therefore be noted that the vibration of the hammer F will cause the head f to strike the arm h of member ll and thus ell'eet the disengagement of arm h with the lever G. Such action will release the rod E and permit the spring E to act as will he further described.

Assuming now that the pressure of gas is normal, the mechanism is first set so that the parts will assume the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 4 in which the rod E is withdrawn from the interior of the member A and the contact parts e and a are in engagement. In this position of parts, the valve A will be in its opening position as shown, the carbon point at the lower end of the stem thereol being withdrawn from the mercury and the electrical circuit thereby opened. Assuming now that the pressure of gas falls below the minimum pressure established, the valve thereupon drops and engages its seat. Such action establishes electrical connection between the valve and through it with the body of the main member A and the terminal spring f and the binding-screw c" and through it with the battery D. A closed circuit is thereby established and the vibrator is thereupon caused to operate. v Such operation actuates the member H to release lever G and permits spring E to project rod E into the gasduct to assume the position shown in Fig. 3. In this described position no further movement of the valve A to unseat is permitted, so that any subsequent increase in the pressure of the gas will be inell'eetual in so far as relates to any further low of the gas in the duct. Such further llow is pre\ 'ented therefore until the mechanism is re-set as above described, thereby preventing the unpremeditated leakage of gas from any open burner which may be connected with the gasduct.

then the rod E is actuated. as above dcscribed to lock the valve in its closing position, the contacts 6 and a are separated, thereby breaking the circuit and discontinuing the operation of the hammer F. By reason of such construction the current from the battery is used only so long as it is necessary to effect the unlocking of the rod. The energy of the battery is only drawn upon when it is effective and is not therefore uselessly expended.

Other modes of r plying the principle of my invention may ll e employed, instead of the one explained, and change may be made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means covered by any one of the following claims be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a as-duct, a valve openin and valve in said duct arranged to be he (1 open by agiven pressure of gas thereon, a movable spring-actuated rod having one end projecting transversely into said duct and above said valve, such end adapted to enga e the valve when in its closing position and ock same in such position, means for locking said rod in a withdrawn position, and electrical means including mechanism for actuating said locking means to unlock said rod, controlled by said valve.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a as duct, a valve openin and valve in said duct arranged to be he d open by a given pressure of as thereon, a movable spring-actuated rod aving one end projecting transversely into said duct and having a path of movement intersecting that of the valve, such end adapted to engage and lock the valve when the latter is in its closing position, a lever for locking said valve in a withdrawn or inoperative position, and a vibratory electrical device controlled by said valve and ada ted to release said lever to unlock said r0 3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gas duct, a valve openin and valve in said duct arranged to be he d open by a given pressure of as thereon, a movable spring-actuated rod aving one end projecting transversely into said duct and having a path of movement intersecting that of said valve, such end adapted to engage and lock the valve when in its closing position, means for locking said rod. in a withdrawn or inoperative position, and electrical means controlled by the valve and including a vibratory hammer adapted to strike one of the parts of said locking-means to disengage same from and permit the spring to actuate said rod;

n a device of the character described,

a movable spring-actuated rod having the combination of a gas duct, a valve openin and valve in sai duct arranged to be he d open by a given pressure of gas thereon, one end projecting transversely into said duct and having a path of movement intersecting that of said valve, such end adapted to engage and lock said valve When in its closing position, a lever for holding said rod in a withdrawn or inoperative position, an arm for securing said lever in its locking osition, and electrical means controlled by t e valve including a vibratory hammer adapted to strike said arm and release said lever, whereby said rod may be actuated by the sprin 5. In a device of the character describe the combination of a gas duct, a valve 0 ening, a valve in said duct arranged to be eld open by a given pressure of gas thereon, means for locking said valve in its closing position, means for holding said lockingmeans in an inoperative position, electrical means controlled by the valve for rendering said holding-means inoperative, and means controlled by the valve-locking means for opening the circuit of said electrical means.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gas duct, a valve 0 ening, a valve in said duct arranged to be eld open by a given pressure of gas thereon, means for locking said valve in its closing position, means for holding said lockingmeans in an inoperative position, electrical means controlled by the valve for rendering said holding-means i110 erative, a stationary contact in the circuit 0 the electrical means and a movable contact carried by the valvelocking means, said two contacts being in engagement while said locking-means are in an inoperative position.

Signed by me, this 31st day of December,

GEORGE G. KOTHE. Attested by:

B. BALDWIN, JULIA ORR. 

